Patent Grant
10053885
The invention relates to lifts for automobiles and in particular, suspension lifts for automobiles.
Parking lifts are useful in stacking cars to be parked to maximize the space available for parking in a parking deck or lot. Lift mechanisms and hydraulics are typically located in a supporting structure or ceiling, requiring additional structural components and consuming valuable space that could otherwise be used for parking automobiles.
There is a need in the art for an automobile lift assembly that reduces structure and conserves space. Provided herein are embodiments of a suspension lift including a lifting mechanism and hydraulics within the platform of the lift apparatus eliminating the need for additional structure to house the lifting mechanism.
In accordance with an embodiment a suspension lift is disclosed having a platform, direction changing sheaves and lifting sheaves mounted to the platform, cables and a lifting mechanism positioned on the platform. Ends of cables mounted above the platform extend through the sheaves and are coupled at the opposite cable ends to the lifting mechanism disposed on the platform. Actuation of the lifting mechanism causes the platform to rise or descend. In accordance with one or more embodiments the cables are anchored to a structure such as a ceiling above the platform.
In accordance with further embodiments, a suspension lift apparatus includes a vehicle platform having a front and rear end, opposing sides between the front and rear end and a central channel formed on the platform along a long axis of the platform, the platform having a plurality of sheaves mounted on a periphery of the platform, a lifting mechanism coupled to the platform and positioned in the channel in axial alignment and coplanar therewith, and a plurality of cables, each of the plurality of cables fixed at a first end to a first end of the lifting mechanism, and routed through the sheaves such that a second end of each cable is operable to be fixed to a structure above the platform, wherein the lifting mechanism is operable to advance the plurality of cables in a first direction to lower the platform relative to the structure above the platform and retract the plurality of cables in a second, opposite direction to raise the platform toward the structure.
The lifting mechanism may include a hydraulic cylinder, motorized or mechanical jack or the like suitable for extending and/or retracting a plurality of cables coupled thereto. The suspension lift may include a lifting block having a first side coupled to respective first ends of the plurality of cables and an opposite side coupled to the lifting mechanism. The suspension lift may include a latch to retain the cables in one or more fixed positions. In one or more embodiments the latch is operable to prevent the lifting mechanism from moving the cables. The lifting block may include at least one such latch. The latch may be pivotably mounted on the lifting block. The lifting block may include two or more latches coupled with a retention plate to ensure coordinated pivotable movement of the latches. The suspension lift may include at least one latch stop block with which the at least one latch is operable to engage. The suspension lift may further include a latch release mechanism pivotably coupled to the at least one latch stop block A latch release mechanism may be coupled to the latch and may be electrically operable by one or more electric solenoids or the like for operating the latch release mechanism. The latch release mechanism may be coupled to a Bowden wire and knob or the like to enable an operator to apply a pulling force on the latch release mechanism. The safety latch assembly may include a spring to provide a biasing force to return the latch release mechanism to the lowered position.
A cover may be provided to cover the channel, thereby forming a housing serving to protect the lifting mechanism, safety latch and cables positioned therein. The channel and cover may be configured so that its highest height, measured from the floor of the platform in the area of the platform runways to the top surface of the cover, is below the minimum ground clearance of a standard automobile. This height may be greater given the particular application, for example, heavy duty trucks, etc. In some embodiments the combined height of the channel and cover relative to a bottom floor portion of an adjacent wheel runway is only sufficient to permit clearance of a vehicle body bottom when the vehicle is in a parked position on the platform. The phrase “only sufficient to permit clearance of a vehicle body bottom” as used herein means that the maximum clearance between a top surface of the channel cover and the bottom surface of a vehicle body positioned on the platform, with the wheels of the vehicle on the platform runways in a parked position, is from 0.5 to 4 inches, preferably 1 to 3 inches, and more preferably, 2 inches.
The platform may include at least one drive on ramp, wheel stop and wheel runways. Parallel runways may be defined by curbs positioned longitudinally along the platform periphery and the cover covering the channel. The runway curbs are used to confine the passage of vehicle tires in the runways and direct the vehicles onto the platform straightaway and are sized, dimensioned and positioned so that they keep an automobile substantially centered on the platform. In some embodiments the curbs are of such a width that the mirrors and other parts of the car that extend beyond the outside walls of the tire do not extend beyond the platform edge. This allows placement of adjacent lifts close together, conserving space from side to side, without hitting the mirrors of adjacent cars.
In one embodiment a drive-on ramp is disposed at an entrance end of the platform and may have sloped front and back ends so that as a car is driven onto the platform and onto the runway the sloped back end serves as a block to prevent the car rolling off the entrance end of the platform. A wheel stop at the platform end opposite the entrance end is dimensioned to house direction changing sheaves and upright lifting sheaves for that end of the platform. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that drive on ramps may be disposed at either or both ends of the platform, as in some cases it may be desirable to accommodate entrance and exit of a car from either end of the platform.
The thickness of the platform employed in some embodiments is from about 2 mm to about 10 mm. This allows the wheels of the vehicle to be parked on the very bottom of the platform. Employing a minimal platform thickness, such as 2 mm, permits a reduction of space between the raised platform and a car parked beneath the platform.
In accordance with still further embodiments a suspension lift apparatus includes a vehicle platform having a front and rear end, opposing sides between the front and rear end and a central channel formed on the platform along a long axis of the platform, the platform further including a first pair of sheaves mounted on opposing sides of the platform vertically with respect to a horizontal plane of the platform and in axial alignment with the long axis of the platform, and positioned between the front and rear ends of the platform, a second pair of sheaves mounted on opposing sides of the platform coplanar with the platform, the second pair of sheaves positioned adjacent the rear end of the platform, a third pair of sheaves mounted at opposing sides of the platform vertically with respect to the horizontal plane of the platform and in axial alignment with a short axis of the platform, a fourth pair of sheaves mounted adjacent each other at an end of the channel proximate the rear end of the platform, each of the fourth pair of sheaves mounted coplanar with the platform, and a fifth pair of sheaves mounted in axial alignment with the fourth pair of sheaves; a lifting mechanism coupled to the platform and positioned in the channel in axial alignment therewith; and two pairs of cables, each cable of said pairs of cables coupled at a first end to a first end of the lifting mechanism, wherein one cable of a first pair of cables is routed around one of the fourth pair of sheaves, one of the second pair of sheaves and one of the first pair of sheaves and includes a second end fixable to a structure above the platform, and the other cable of the first pair is routed around the other of the fourth pair of sheaves, the other of the second pair of sheaves and the other of the first pair of sheaves and includes a second end fixable to a structure above the platform, and wherein one cable of a second pair of cables is routed around one of the fifth pair of sheaves and one of the third pair of sheaves and includes a second end fixable to a structure above the platform, and the other of the second pair of cables is routed around the other of the fifth pair of sheaves and the other of the third pair of sheaves and includes a second end fixable to a structure above the platform.
In accordance with an embodiment, one of the first pair of sheaves is mounted to a curb on a first side of the platform and the other of the first pair of sheaves is mounted to a curb on the opposing side of the platform. The platform may include at least one end plate extending vertically with respect to the horizontal plane of the platform and orthogonal to the opposing sides. In some embodiments each one of the third pair of sheaves is mounted to an end plate extending vertically with respect to the horizontal plane of the platform and orthogonal to the opposing sides. The suspension lift apparatus may include a lifting block having a first side coupled to the two pairs of cables and an opposite side coupled to the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism may include a reciprocally movable extension arm having an end coupled to the lifting block.
In other embodiments, when there is no ceiling or other support available to anchor one or more of the cables, the suspension lift may include one or more legs having a base and one or more cable mounts at an end opposite the base. The legs may be integrated with curbs at the periphery of the platform and be configured very thin to conserve space. Additionally, the number of cables and number of mounting points and/or legs may vary depending on the size of the platform. Thus, embodiments of suspension lifts disclosed herein may include at least one leg positioned adjacent the platform, the at least one leg comprising at least one cable mount to receive a second end of at least one of the cables. For example, but not by way of limitation, the suspension lift apparatus may include four legs, each leg having at least one cable mount to receive a second end of at least one of the cables.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a suspension lift that is lighter in weight than any available parking lift. In addition to providing a compact sized parking lift, the disclosed embodiments provide a major cost savings at least insofar as the material requirements, such as steel, are minimized.
For the purposes of illustration, there are forms shown in the drawings that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the FIGs. With reference to
In embodiments in which the lifting mechanism 40 is a hydraulic lifting mechanism, the pipe 160 serves as a hydraulic line. In other embodiments, in which the lifting mechanism 40 is not hydraulic, such as but not limited to a motorized jack, the flexible hose 140 and the pipe 160 may contain only wiring.
The platform 10 may include a wheel stop 14, drive on ramp 16, longitudinal channel 18 and wheel runways 20 disposed longitudinally on the platform 10. Longitudinal channel 18 is sized and configured to contain the lifting mechanism 40, lifting block 100 and portions of cables 60, 70, 80 and 90. Runways 20 may be defined by curbs 12 positioned longitudinally along the platform 10 periphery and channel cover 22. Channel cover 22, wheel stop 14 and drive-on ramp 16, as shown in
With further reference to
Cable 60 is coupled at a first end to an anchor 150, routed through sheaves 30a and 32a and coupled at a second end to lifting block 100. Cable 70 is coupled at a first end to an anchor 150, routed through sheaves 26a, 28a and 32c and coupled at a second end to lifting block 100. Cable 80 is coupled at a first end to an anchor 150, routed through sheaves 30b and 32b and coupled at a second end to lifting block 100. Cable 90 is coupled at a first end to an anchor 150, routed through sheaves 26b, 28b and 32d and coupled at a second end to lifting block 100.
The sections of cables 70 and 90 extending between sheaves 26a and 28a and 26b and 28b, respectively, may be protected by flanges 12a of curbs 12.
With further reference to
Support blocks 43 may be fixed directly to a floor of platform 10 or to a mounting plate 44 for mounting components of the suspension lift apparatus 2. Lifting mechanism 40 is trunnion mounted to support blocks 43. Other means to mount the lifting mechanism may be employed as known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in
In accordance with an embodiment, safety latches 50 are pivotably mounted on lifting block 100. A retention plate 51 may be employed to couple the safety latches 50 to ensure coordination of pivotal movement of the safety latches 50. With further reference to
Lifting mechanism 40 includes extension arm 40a which is coupled to the lifting block 100 and reciprocally movable in the channel 18 along the long axis of the platform 10 upon actuation of the lifting mechanism 40, once the safety latches 50 are released.
With further reference to
The drive-on ramp 16 is disposed at an entrance end of the platform 10 and may have sloped front and back ends so that as a car is driven onto the platform 10 and onto the runways 20 the sloped back end serves as a block to prevent the car rolling off the entrance end of the platform 10. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an additional, appropriately configured drive-on ramp may be disposed at the opposite end of the platform 10, i.e., the end having the wheel stop 14, as it may be desirable to accommodate entrance and exit of a car from either end of the platform 10. Such additional drive-on ramp would fit over the wheel stop 14 to ensure no damage to the underlying sheaves and cables.
Cables may be but are not limited ropes, belts or the like, made of suitable materials such as metal, Kevlar, polymer, reinforced polymer, hemp, etc.
The disclosed configuration of the platform 10, including the channel 18 housing the lifting mechanism 40, portions of cables 60, 70, 80 and 90 and safety latch apparatus permits a car to park on the platform 10 with the entire lifting mechanism 40 between the wheel of the car. This configuration advantageously eliminates the need to place these components above, below or adjacent the lift platform 10, saving considerable space. The channel 18 can be any suitable width, constrained only by the space required to form adequately-sized runways 20, it being apparent to the skilled artisan that platforms of various widths and lengths may be employed. The channel 18 and the channel cover 22 may be configured so that its highest height is below the minimum ground clearance of a standard automobile. The height may be higher given the particular application, for example, heavy duty trucks, etc.
The thickness of the platform 10 may be any suitable thickness. In some embodiments the thickness is from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. Employing a minimal platform thickness, such as 2 mm, with the wheels resting on the very bottom of the platform 10, permits a reduction of space between the raised platform 10 and a car parked beneath the platform. In some embodiments the platform 10 has a flat top and bottom surface, for example, with a rectangular or square cross section. This is in contrast to some existing platform floor designs, in which the platform runways are made from a corrugated sheet rather than a flat sheet, and/or other support or lifting members are installed below the platform floor so that the distance from the surface of the platform upon which the wheels rest to the surface that would touch the floor when the platform is lowered, i.e., the effective thickness of the platform, may be as much as 2 inches, or 50 mm. Furthermore, some existing lift platforms include a box constructed of tubular steel members with braces running longitudinally and laterally which requires the rolling surface to be positioned on top of the frame. This type of platform could be as much as 4 inches or about 100 mm thick.
Additionally, in many cases the distance between the floor and some upright obstacle precludes the use of a lift with a thick platform. For example, platforms may be 50 mm thick which often leads to problems. In addition, there is typically some hysteresis in the safety latching mechanism, i.e., when the platform is raised and the latch engages, the platform must be raised at least slightly to relieve the pressure on the safety latch before it can be disengaged. With some parking equipment now in use this amount of hysteresis is significant. By employing a very thin platform and the latch arrangement disclosed herein hysteresis is minimized. Furthermore, the channel cover 22 adds structural stiffness to the platform 10 when securely fastened to the platform 10.
It will be apparent that the cables 60, 70, 80 and 90 may be fixed directly to a ceiling or other structure above the platform 10. For example, one or more of the cables 60, 70, 80 and 90 could be directly swaged to a structure, have ends having loops to hang on an existing hook, or the like.
Now referring to
Although the devices and systems of the present disclosure have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited thereby. Indeed, the exemplary embodiments are implementations of the disclosed systems and methods are provided for illustrative and non-limitative purposes. Changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements to the disclosed systems and methods may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, such changes, modifications, enhancements and/or refinements are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/136,665 filed Mar. 23, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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| 62136665 | Mar 2015 | US |
